Bottle box



Oct. 25, 1932. J. 1.. LOWMAN BOTTLE BOX Filed June 15. 1931 J L.L0WmazvPatented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED- STATES JESSE L. LOWE-IAN, OFGI-IILLICOTHE, OHIO BOTTLE BOX Application filed June 15,

This invention relates to special receptacles and more particularly to abox or container intended for use as a receptacle in which empty bottlesmay be placed for removal by a milkman and filled bottles introducedtherein where they Will be safely housed and prevented from beingtampered with or removed by unauthorized persons.

One object of the invention is to so form the bottle box that when emptybottles are placed therein, they may be easily removed by the milkman,but the filled bottles when inserted into the box forced past ayieldable barrier cannot be removed until a locked door has been opened.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box of this characterwhich is very simple in construction and may be cheaply manufactured.

31,: The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the 1mproved bottle box with the dooropened and a filled bottle shown within the box,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the bottle box, and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely through the boxalong the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

The improved bottle box is preferably formed of thick sheet metalalthough any material found suitable be used. Its body portion has abottom 1, top 2 and front and rear walls 3 and 4. At one end there hasbeen provided an end wall 5, but its other end is left open and in orderto permit this end to be closed there has been provided a door 6 whichis connected with the rear wall by hinges 7 so that the door may bemoved into and out of a closed position.

When the door is closed, a hasp 8 carried by the door is engaged with akeeper 9 riveted to the front wall 3 and a padlock 10 is then engagedthrough the keeper. herefore opened until the lock is released.

By referring to Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the front wall 3terminates in spaced relation to the end wall 5 thereby forming anopening 11 through which empty bottles the door will be held shut andcannot be 1931. Serial 110 544531.

placed in the box may be removed and filled bottles introduced withinthe box.

A barrier 12 formed of resilient sheet metal and having one end portionbent to form an attaching portion or flange 13 is disposed within thebox and its attaching flange welded or otherwise firmly secured againstthe inner face of the front wall 3. The barrier 12 extends transverselyof the box and divides the interior thereof into front and rearcompartments one of which receives the empty milk bottles through theopening 11 and the other compartment the filled milk bottles after theyhave been forced past the barrier. The barrier is of such dimensionsthat it extends substantially the full depth of the box as shown inFigure 3 and also has its inner edge terminating only a short distancefrom the rear wall i. This distance is suflicient to prevent danger of apersons hand becoming caught between the rear Wall and the free inneredge of the barrier, but is less than the diameter of a milk bottle.Therefore when a filled bottle is inserted into the box through theentrance 11, pressure must be applied to force the bottle past thebarrier into the portion of the box between the barrier and the door 6.The barrier is sprung towards the door as the bottle is forced past itas shown by dotted lines in Figure 2 and then returns to its normalposition shown in full lines in this figure. The pressure exerted inorder to force the bottle past the barrier will force it to be movedtowards the door 6 a sufiicient distance to prevent the bottle frombeing reached after the barrier has returned to its normal position andtherefore an unauthorized person will be prevented from removing thebottle.

The space between the barrier and the rear wall of the box is notSllfiiClGIlt to permit a cat or other animal to enter the portion of thebox in which the filled bottles are located. By removing the lock thedoor 6 may be opened and the filled bottles easily removed. Since onlythe occupant of a house will have a key to fit the lock, the door mayonly be opened by an authorized person and there can be no question asto whether or not the milkman delivered the proper quantity of milk.

What is claimed is:

1. A bottle receptacle comprising a hollow body open at one end, abarrier extending transversely of the body and dividing the body intofront and rear compartments there being an entrance openingcommunicating with the rear compartment, said barrier being formed ofresilient material and having one edge thereof secured to one wall ofthe body and its other edge spaced from another wall of the body wherebya bottle introduced through the entrance opening into the rearcompartment may be forced past the barrier into the front compartment,and

a closure for the open end of the body.

2A bottle receptacle comprising an elongated hollow body having one endthereof open and its other end closed, the front wall of the body beingprovided with an entrance opening, a transverse barrier disposed at oneside of the entrance opening and dividing the interior of the body intofront and rear compartments one of which is adapted to receive emptymilk bottles and the other filled milk bottles, said barrier beingformed of resilient material and having one edgethereof provided with anattaching flange rigidly secured to the inner wall of the frontcompartment and its free edge inclined forwardly and spaced from therear wall of said compartment whereby a milk bottle inserted in the rearcompartment and pressed against the barrier will deflect the free end ofthe barrier and permit the entrance of said bottle into the forwardcompartment, and a door mounted at the open end of the body and forminga closure for the front compartment.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JESSE L. LOVVMAN. [L.s.]

